The concepts of fluids and electrolytes and fluid balance are critically important for the nurse to understand. Fluid management is essential in the acute care setting so adequate knowledge must be had to provide the best patient care possible (McGloin, 2015). There are two main fluid compartments within the body: intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF), which is further sub-divided into intravascular fluid and interstitial fluid (Crawford & Harris, 2011). Intracellular fluid is the fluid found within the cells of the body and makes up two-thirds of the total body fluid (McGloin, 2015). Extracellular fluid, which is the fluid outside of the cells, makes up for one-third of the total body fluid; interstitial fluid is in the
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Active transport occurs when energy is required for a shift in fluids while passive transport requires no energy for fluid movement (Crawford & Harris, 2011). Diffusion is a form of passive transport that allows electrolytes and other body fluids to move through a selectively permeable membrane (McGloin, 2015). Filtration is another form of passive transport that involves the movement of fluid under pressure from the capillaries to the interstitial space (McGloin, 2015). Osmosis is also an example of passive transport; osmosis is defined as the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration (Scales & Pilsworth, 2008). Hydrostatic and osmotic pressure are the main forces that determine and drive water movement; the action of the heart pumping and the effect of gravity on blood flow creates hydrostatic pressure while osmotic pressure is created and generated by the molecules in the solution (Scales & Pilsworth, 2008). The molecules that generate the osmotic pressure are usually large protein molecules, referred to as colloid molecules, which will be discussed in more detail (McGloin, 2015). Understanding the movement of electrolytes and water within the body is crucial for intravenous fluid …show more content…
Colloids contain large substances, usually something like a protein, that does not pass through the semipermeable membrane of the cell and does not readily dissolve; colloids stay within the intravascular space and draw fluid into the extravascular space with high oncotic pressure (Crawford & Harris, 2011). Albumin is an example of a colloid (Trakalo, 2015). Crystalloids readily dissolve into solutions and include 0.9% NaCl and Lactated Ringers (Trakalo, 2015). Crystalloids easily pass through the semipermeable membrane of the cell and increase interstitial and intravascular compartment volume (Crawford & Harris, 2011). It is critical for the nurse to understand the tonicity and crystalloid or colloid status of intravenous fluids that are frequently
Active transport occurs when energy is required for a shift in fluids while passive transport requires no energy for fluid movement (Crawford & Harris, 2011). Diffusion is a form of passive transport that allows electrolytes and other body fluids to move through a selectively permeable membrane (McGloin, 2015). Filtration is another form of passive transport that involves the movement of fluid under pressure from the capillaries to the interstitial space (McGloin, 2015). Osmosis is also an example of passive transport; osmosis is defined as the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration (Scales & Pilsworth, 2008). Hydrostatic and osmotic pressure are the main forces that determine and drive water movement; the action of the heart pumping and the effect of gravity on blood flow creates hydrostatic pressure while osmotic pressure is created and generated by the molecules in the solution (Scales & Pilsworth, 2008). The molecules that generate the osmotic pressure are usually large protein molecules, referred to as colloid molecules, which will be discussed in more detail (McGloin, 2015). Understanding the movement of electrolytes and water within the body is crucial for intravenous fluid …show more content…
Colloids contain large substances, usually something like a protein, that does not pass through the semipermeable membrane of the cell and does not readily dissolve; colloids stay within the intravascular space and draw fluid into the extravascular space with high oncotic pressure (Crawford & Harris, 2011). Albumin is an example of a colloid (Trakalo, 2015). Crystalloids readily dissolve into solutions and include 0.9% NaCl and Lactated Ringers (Trakalo, 2015). Crystalloids easily pass through the semipermeable membrane of the cell and increase interstitial and intravascular compartment volume (Crawford & Harris, 2011). It is critical for the nurse to understand the tonicity and crystalloid or colloid status of intravenous fluids that are frequently